My Magnum Opus

This threesome is watching Charlotte's Web, repeatedly, during this vacation. Charlotte, the spider, refers to the egg sack she lays, as her "Magnum Opus". She says that means, her "great work". I believe that the addition of Amy to our family, is my Magnum Opus. Please check out my happy Magnum Opus, in this bench modeled after a ski-lift chair. She is happy to have her swim suit on underneath all the clothing, as we are on our way to the pool, and to have a hot dog in her tummy.

This would have been my kind of day of skiing

The runs are groomed, there is abundant snow, and the sky is sunny. It is even warm out, relatively speaking. It is Don's birthday today. We all had a great day: Birthday Boy tearing up Deer Mountain, Mom loving the yoga experience of "The Shop", and Amy being a great sport at the "Clubhouse", drop-in child-care. Amy was beside herself with excitement to ride the "school-bus" up the mountain (to Silver-Lake Lodge) to see Daddy ski. She loves her daddy like nothing else, and beams brightly upon seeing him always.

Don chose a new-age, gourmet restaurant tonight for his birthday treat. I'm afraid he did not get much of a birthday dinner. Amy was dead set on staying in the hotel and watching DVD's tonight, and she pretty much gave us #($@(#*$?!!. In each and every restaurant she has requested a hot dog, and in each and every restaurant, they have denied her request. I have concluded that Utah does not have hot dogs. I think I'm paying for the torture I put my family through in my many years of hot dog-jag.

Yoga shots

The cuteness of my angel in a yoga studio! It is our first day in Park City. Don has had "epic" conditions, including 12" of fresh snow in the last 24 hours (on top of nothing but snow). This is the kind of conditions he loves. I, on the other hand, would be paranoid of the complete lack of visibility, the clumps of heavy snow forming pre-moguls, and the inability for Park City snow cats to keep up with the snowfall for grooming. This is what snow sports are all about, and I'm luxuriating in the comfort of Main Street.

These photos were shot in the yoga studio 5 minutes before the mommy and tots class. Amy raced around, appearing as a yoga prodigy or something, while the mommies paid their fees, signed in and took care of pre-yoga business. Then when the class gathered, and the teacher started the adorable animal poses, my little yogini wanted nothing to do with yoga. She was more fascinated with the water cooler that she could operate. I closed my eyes for a minute, and was surrounded by cups of water, and the sound of our teacher telling Amy not get use the water cooler again. She found a wall shelf, filled with yoga blocks of all sizes, and during another minute of personal shut-eye, she de-yoga blocked the whole wall full of blocks. The entire class had to put blocks away after she did her work.

While I loved the experience today, it confirms why I don't seek out toddler yoga at home.

Amy's Friend Jacob

Pictured here is Amy's former class-mate Jacob, on a recent visit to pre-school. Amy and Jacob were in the same class. We met Jacob's Mom and Dad and were hoping to forge a closer social relationship with them. Jacob had to leave school this summer to receive many, many ongoing treatments for cancer. He is nearing the goal of his treatment. His parents love him like we love Amy. Like every parent loves their child. Like the universe revolves around the love they have for their child. Please enjoy the pictures, especially the one of Jacob and Amy rejoicing in the reunion of his visit. Please visit the link in the upper right and read about the heroic love of Jacob's parents in their quest to battle Ewings Sarcoma.

And stay tuned. We're off to Utah.

The bike

Amy rode from our house to the park today on her new bike. She was all smiles, except for the learning opportunity that happened early on when her training wheel went off the path. She cried and wiped off the dirt, and got back on. Initially, I had suggested that we ride to Starbuck's for coffee and hot chocolate, and Daddy brought me back down to earth. It is 2 miles each way, and requires crossing a major intersection. When it was time to turn around at the park, to go home, Amy said "I wanna go to coffee Mommy".

Gotcha Day! Time out and other things....

Two years ago, yesterday, the Ayi's in China placed Amy in my arms. It was 021506 in the afternoon, China-time. She cried hysterically and didn't let up until close to bed-time. She slept soundly in our hotel crib. Each day, she got a little more relaxed until now it is hard to imagine that we weren't always together. Everyone says the time of parenting goes fast. I know what that means now. I went from 45 to 47 and she went from 14 months to 3 years old, in the blink of an eye.

So today is a special family day. We had lunch at PF Chang's and Hot Chocolate a fancy chocolate store. We picked up Aunt Linda's glazed mug at Glazenfrye, and now the princess is sawing wood. I'm glad she's sleeping because we're going to give her the bike which we had hoped to give her for the holidays or her birthday. There was too much stuff in December, so we postponed for this glorious celebration. Stay tuned for pictures of Amy on her first bike.

We'll have a special family candle lighting and prayer offering for Amy's birth parents in China. I wish they could only know how loved and healthy and beautiful she is.

Makeup: Linda gave her a 65 piece set for the holidays. I dole it out a few pieces at a time. We've burned through the lipsticks and she's on to face pencils. She had the cutest face full of sparkles and purple eyebrows today. I hope the pictures come close to revealing the cuteness.

Family: Chris and Ron were in town last weekend. It was great to see them and of course, Cliff and Kathy.

Time Out: Who invented it? I think whoever did should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm digging this effective manner of behavior modification without having to even raise my voice. One minute in the corner turns a wild toddler into a spoonful of sugar.

China link: Please see link in upper right. If you have ever made birds or other animals out of your hands via shadow, you will appreciate the extreme talent of these guys. The link to this video came from Wendy, an HRFCC Mommy.

Happy Chinese New Year! Xin nian hao ya!

We are dancing, we are singing! Wo men chang ge! Wo men tiao wu!

Today was the Hampton Roads Families with Children from China New Year's celebration. Don and I had the realization that we've been involved in this group for 4 years now! We attended 2 CNY celebrations while "paper pregnant", and 2 since the amazing Amy has been ours! We were all really excited for the occasion. When we arrived, Don and I experienced something new. Amy, aka, "Liesel", "Flounder", and sometimes "Ariel", clung to Don and I like a suction cup. She was completely overwhelmed and actually asked to go outside. We did not oblige since we were at the oceanfront in a gale-force cold front. Her feet would not touch down, and she would not participate in the crafts tables. She would not tolerate posing for a professionally shot photo.

I wore stupid heels, and felt like I had a disability. It is stupid to attempt to carry a needy, 30 lb. child in high heels. Never again will I be held back by hateful shoes.

After the magic of the dance performers, our happy, extroverted girl came to life. She even got underneath the traveling dragon with the rowdy older kids. When it was time to go, she cried about not wanting to go home.

I never knew going to the dentist could be so much fun!

What a joy a simple visit to the dentist is. Amy was ready for the occasion, thanks to the preparatory book we frequently read, highlighting Dora's trip to the dentist. Amy was a good patient. When we were through, she whined that she didn't want to leave. It could be the penguin engulfed in a super-ball, or the tiny fishy etch-a-sketch. I'm not sure.

Even though it was obvious, I was in denial until Dr. O'Hara said we'll have to watch her under-bite (prognathism!). Her top teeth fall in behind her bottom teeth. This has created a face I adore beyond comprehension. Since it is better for her health to correct it if necessary we will, but trust me, I love the look it creates that is so: Amy. We are looking at a potential appliance when her big teeth come in. I've got a little while to enjoy the delightfully delicious Amy prognathismic(!) look.

Stay tuned. Next weekend we have out of town visitors and the Hampton Roads Families with Children from China Chinese New Year's Celebration. Thanks for checking the blog and be well!